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Coast to coast to coast relay by Vintage Aircraft celebrates 100 years of powered flight in Canada

July 14, 2009 – 2009 marks the 100th Anniversary of the first powered, heavier-than-air, controlled flight in Canada by J.A.D. McCurdy in the Silver Dart on the frozen surface of the Bras d’Or Lake near Baddeck, Nova Scotia.

Under the leadership of the Canadian Aeronautical Preservation Association (CAPA), aviation museums and aviation heritage sites across Canada will celebrate that milestone with a unique and historically oriented event.  The “Back To Baddeck” vintage aircraft relay flight project, which is CAPA’s celebration of 100 years of Canadian aviation achievements, recognizes Canada’s aviation roots in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, celebrates the wide variety of aircraft involved and aviation’s national impact.

This relay flight will be done in several legs with a variety of vintage aircraft owned and restored by member Museums.  The northern portion of the relay will start in Baddeck, Nova Scotia on 23 February, 2009 going west across the Canadian north to end up in Comox, BC by May.  The southern portion will be done west to east from Comox, BC starting on 23 May and ending at the Nova Scotia International Air Show in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia 12 and 13 September.

This cross Canada flight will stop at all of the member museums (see list below), each provincial capital as well as in Ottawa.  On board the aircraft will be the “baton” which will contain special mint coins issued by the Royal Canadian Mint and stamps issued by Canada Post cancelled in Baddeck on the Anniversary date affixed to a specifically designed envelope.  These will be presented to each member museum, the provincial Premiers and the Governor General of Canada.

Canada has been more reliant on aviation for its development than any other country in the world.  Aviation opened up Canada and remains a lifeline to many remote and northern areas. The significance of aviation today and what it has done for Canada can be compared to what the Canadian Pacific Railway did for Canada in the years after Confederation.   CAPA was formed to promote the preservation of aircraft, Canadian aviation history, and the retention in Canada of aircraft, airframes, associated artifacts and related materials significant to Canadian aviation.